Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Pinwheels are a staple of childhood. We all had them and our kids still love them, so here are some easy instructions to make your own. The best part is you can customize them to fit your little munchkin.

Materials needed:

1 skewer

1 toothpick

1 rubber band

2 squares of scrapbook paper

4 beads--I used 2 pony beads and 2 foam beads

To make the wheel:

Step 1: Cut out 2 squares of paper. I used 6 inch squares.

Step 2: Glue the squares together so both sides are decorative.

Step 3: Cut a straight line at each corner toward the middle of the square. Leave 3/4 of an inch at the middle.

Step 4: Cover the uncut center with glue and fold one half of each corner toward the middle. Press and hold or secure with a clothes pin.

Once the glue is dry you can make a clean hole through the middle by using a pushpin.

To make the stem:

Step 1: Hold the skewer vertically and cross a toothpick near the top horizontally so it looks like a cross.

Step 2: Weaver a rubber band around your toothpick and skewer to secure them in place.

To join your 2 pieces thread 2 pony beads onto the long end of the toothpick and slide your pinwheel onto the toothpick.

I slid 2 foam beads on after the wheel to secure it in place. If you think of a better way to secure it please leave a comment!

Voila! There you have a pinwheel. Make sure to supervise young children since the toothpick can be dangerous. Cut the back of the point off the toothpick and duct tape the edge so it isn't sharp.

Here is the finishing touch to your dress-up set. The best part about these is your little princess can actually play outside in her dress-up shoes without face planting on the sidewalk. Can you tell I speak from experience??

Materials needed:

Plain flip-flops--I got mine at Michael's

5/8 satin ribbon

iridescent ribbon

2 sparkly pom-poms

liquid cement

Cut the ribbon to the length of each side of your flip-flop straps.

Use the liquid cement to glue the ribbons to the flip flops and secure them in place with clothes pins.

Make half of a fancy bow by looping 2 pieces of iridescent ribbon and criss-cross them.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Trains, balloon animals and face tattoos...does it get any better than that? It does if all these things are a part of A Day Out With Thomas! Our family had the awesome opportunity to go to A Day Out With Thomas and it was the most fun my kids have ever had.

We started our day by surprising the kiddles with conductor hats that I had embellished the night before.

I used Thomas fabric remnant to spruce up these hats that I got a Zurcher's for $1.39

We loaded the family into the minivan and played a Thomas DVD for the kids. They had no idea where we were going or what we had planned for the day. After a gorgeous scenic drive up to Heber City we arrived at the train station. The kids took one look at the Day Out With Thomas banners and lost their minds. To be honest...I was so excited I could have puked glitter.

And the fun begins!

We got our wristbands and headed for the train. Did I mention it was a full-sized Thomas train complete with men in conductor uniforms?

How cool is that?!?!

The kids had never ridden a train so I was relieved that it was a slow, relaxing ride. Our daughter has sensory processing issues and I was afraid that she would be overloaded, but she did surprisingly well. Even the baby enjoyed himself.

My little Dax-a-Million

Samantha never misses a photo-op

Mommy and Philly

The famdamily on the train

Even Philly was sporting a Thomas shirt

At the end of the ride the children were given Junior Conductor certificates. How cute is that?

I had originally thought is was just a train ride that we had paid for, but there was also a great little carnival for the kids complete with balloon animals, temporary tattoos, and an Imagination Station where they were able to play with train tables, blocks, and stamps. There was also a miniature golf course, but we chose to skip that activity for fear of a nuclear melt down. If you knew our kids you would understand.

Baby did NOT appreciate the cold sponge that came with the tattoo

We got a map that we had to have stamped at different areas and at the ends the kids got a little prize

I may have to invest in those train track stamps...

Sir Dax-a-lot and his mighty sword

Sam's pretty little butterfly

After waiting in a very long line they also got to meet Sir Topham Hat? He is much taller in person than he is on TV. Hmmm...

My kids roll with celebrities.

Overall it was an incredible day and the kids could not have been happier. The tickets were well worth the money and the drive and I can't wait to go again next year.